PANDA
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
DESCRIPTION
The giant panda is a bear species known for its distinctive black and white coloring. Native to China, it primarily inhabits mountainous regions and is a symbol of wildlife conservation efforts.
FUN FACTS
- Pandas have a special wrist bone that acts like a thumb, allowing them to grasp bamboo | They can eat up to 38 kg of bamboo in a single day | Pandas are born pink and weigh about 100 grams
QUICK INFO
Lifespan20 years in the wild, up to 30 years in captivity
Average Weight70-160 kg
Average Length1.2-1.8 m
Diet TypeHerbivore
Social Structuresolitary, typically live alone except during mating season or a mother with her cubs
Activity PatternCrepuscular
Breeding SeasonSpring (March-May)
- Habitat
- Giant pandas live in temperate forests with dense bamboo undergrowth. They require a cool, moist environment to thrive.
- Biomes
- Temperate Forest
- Native Range
- The giant panda is native to the mountain ranges of central China.
- Continent
- Asia
- Countries
- China
- Diet
- Pandas are primarily herbivorous, with bamboo making up about 99% of their diet. They occasionally consume other plants and small animals.
- Diet Type
- Herbivore
- Favorite Food
- bamboo
- Social Structure
- solitary, typically live alone except during mating season or a mother with her cubs
- Activity Pattern
- Crepuscular
- Group Size
- 1
- Territorial
- 0
70-160 kg
Weight
1.2-1.8 m
Length
0.6 m at shoulder
Height (Shoulder)
- Coloration
- black and white fur with distinctive patches around the eyes, ears, and limbs
- Sexual Dimorphism
- males are generally larger than females
- Lifespan
- 20 years in the wild, up to 30 years in captivity
- Gestation Period
- 95-160 days
- Offspring per Birth
- 1-2
- Sexual Maturity
- 4-6 years
- Breeding Season
- Spring (March-May)
VU
Vulnerable
IUCN Red List Status
- Population Status
- The giant panda population has been increasing due to conservation efforts, but they remain vulnerable.
- Wild Population Estimate
- 1,864
- Population Trend
- Increasing
- Endangered
- 1
- Threats
- Main threats include habitat loss due to deforestation and fragmentation, as well as climate change affecting bamboo availability.
- Conservation Program
- Giant Panda National Park and various breeding programs in captivity
- Predators
- humans, occasionally large carnivores like leopards
- Compatible Animals
- none
- Found in Zoos
- Common